Trust in the gear !?!?

[Grandad]

Trust in your climbing gear happens spontaneously if you can climb in a stress free situation. If you are being pressured things will happen a lot slower. When I was learning I felt under pressure from a rather impatient boss on the ground. It wasn't until he left us alone and I was helped by a more patient colleague that things came together, it all happened in one day. I stopped being nervous and found my confidence.

[David Goss]

How long did it take for you guys/gals to find trust in your climbing gear, for me it seems to be a bit of a struggle

I know that the gear is rated so it could lift a car or two but still I don't feel that i'm in the trust yet ,,,,,

any tips would be nice !!!

 

//Kipp

 

If you want to see just how strong your gear is then get an old rope and tie it off to a branch then put your harness on and hang with your butt an inch or so off the ground. Then get your knife out and start cutting the rope fibres. It will surprise you how much of the rope you can cut through and it will still hold your weight. I got down to 1 strand before it gave in and snapped (i am very light though).

[Pete in Tasmania]

"listening to an mp3 player helped relax me and improve my focus,"

 

The thought of someone being cut off from any of their senses (apart from the inevitable sound masking when a saw is going) while in a tree horrifies me.

 

I want every one of my senses fully operational working at heights with cutting implements. Being fully present and observant is of fundamental importance and just might save your life or some other misfortune one day.

 

There could be a small sound of a branch cracking or someone trying to communicate from the ground--anything could be missed with extra sound directed into your ears.

 

One of the things that I try to keep in mind at heights is that it is mostly what is right in front of me in my control that will determine my safe work.

Pete